Cork-rod-packing machine



C. E. M MANUS CORK ROD PACKING MACHINE March 30 1926.

Filed Dec. 1, 1923 3 vSlnaer.s-Sheec 1 March 30 1926. 1,579,013

I I C- E. MCMANUS CORK ROD PACKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1', 1923 March 30 1926. 1,579,013

6. E. MOMANUS CORK ROD PACKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1, 1923 i 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 CC Qwbentoz plungers by a construction which will suc-y Patented Mar. 30, 1926.

* UNITED ,s'rAr-Es CHARLES. is. McMANUS, or YORK-,fi. Y.

conx-aon-rAcxme MACHINE. i

I Application flle'd December 1-, 1923. Serial no. svspse.

My invention relates to cork rod packing machines, andinore particularly toa machine of this type employing a group of circularly arranged 'reciprocatory plungers or rams adapted to act successively and progressively in relation to a sequence of tubes,

but upon succeeding charges of cork com-v position successively delivered iirmeasured quantities to each tube, until the desired volume of compacted cork composition has been'accumulated in each tube.

Heretofore in this art it has been thecommon practice in machines where plungers are [mitting the gradual step by step descentot thetube necessary to compensate. forthe in-- circularly arranged, to have the compacting plungers of progressively decreased 'or graduatedlengths to compensate for the progressively increasing volume of compacted cork composition within a' tube, as it has movement with relation 'to succeeding plungers.

In a machine embodying my present in-- 'ventlon, instead of usmg packing'plungers of graduated lengths, I employ'a sequence of v plungcr's which are of uniform length, or

i substantially so, and secure the desired variance in the effective stroke of'succeeding cessively lower the tubes toa predetermined extent to compensate for the amount of cork composition progressively accumulated therein.

' structed that each tube isbrought in the op ment of a plunger so as to ensure its timelydelivery to the tube.

erati-ve. relation to succeeding plungers or rams and will receive a charge of cork com-' The measuring'mechanism'by which cork composition, 1n measured quantities 1s delivered to the tube, is so constructed: asto 8116- ford ample time for the cork composition to flow from a supplyhopper to within the measuring. device, and 1s so actuated 1n synchronism with the support for the tubes as This mechanism is also so 'con-' to ensure-the timely delivery ditlh cork composition and avoid the possibility, of. the

scattering of this'composition about the ma- "chineq up -The cork composition is delivered to;.the

tubes progressively through tubular open- PATENT H E- I ings, through'which the comacting plung 1 ers or rams are adapted .to pass before: enter ing the tubes, andthese openings are o-fprogres'sively increased length in the direction of movement ofthetubesduring the packing operation, so that the discharge end thereof will be in the same relation to a tube irrespective of a change in the vertical level of the top of the tube due to its progressive movementaway. from the plungers during the operation of. the machme 1n deliverlng 1 and compacting succeedingcha'rges of cork composition therein: v r It is essent1al to support each tube 1n a manner Which Will permit the development of; the desired compacting pressure by the" plungers' or ramswhile at thesame time perc'reasing volume of cork. composition accudesired modified effectiveness of the s troke of y the plunger with'relationnto the contents of the tube.

tent rotarymovement to the measuring mechanism and the tube carriers is controlled. by a crank wheel mechanism for mpartlng The mechanism for imparting"intermit-i reciprocatory movement to the plungers, and i is so constructedas to secure positive movement of the tubes and of the measuring device, and to limit this movementto'that required to secure thedesired alinement of the measuring device, the openings leading therefrom and discharging into the tubes, and the tubes themselves, thus avoiding all possibility of interference by said measuring device and said tubes with the plunge-rs or securing the desired axial alinement of-these parts with the plungers.

In a machineembodying my invention, a: fairly high speed is permitted in the. ma-

chine and the lik-elihoodolt the production of imperfect rods isreduced to a minimum.

The invention consists primarily in a cork Irod packing mac'hlne embodying therein a sequence of plungers of substantially uniform length, means reciprocating-said plungers, a rotatable carrier for a plurality "oftubes whereby said tubes respectively may be brought into operative relation to succeeding plungers, supports for said plungers whereby each of said tubes will be held against downward movement with a plunger, said supports being of decreasingly graduated heights with relation'to the plungers, whereby the tubes with each actuation of said carrier will be permitted to descend from one of said supports to the other, and means for delivering a measured-quantity of cork composition to within each tube while upon each of said supports; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out a machine emin the drawings, the main frame of the ma 1 chine consists of a base 10,.having a circular formation at the top thereof and a central -tubular column 11' concentric with the'circular portion of said base. The column 11 is hollow as shown, the interior of the column being finished to permit a tubular'slide '12 torhave reoiprocatory movement therein.

Mountedwithin the base 10 is a crank wheel 13 connected by means of a pitman 14 with the piston-like slide 12, so as to impart reciprocatory movement to said slide.

and the parts carried thereby. The crank wheel 13 is driven'from any desired source of power, as the pulley driven shaft 15, the

' small gear 16 carried thereby and the internal gear 17 upon the wheel- 13. This intern al gear is preferably used to permit the utilization of the crank wheel for imparting an intermittent rotary movement to the tube carrier and the corkcomposition feeding mechanism in a manner which will be more fully referred to heremafter.

w The central column 11 has secured there to, above the base 10, a fixed cork compose tion hopper 18 of any desired capacity to permit the-continuous operation of the machine and convenience in the renewal of the supply'of the cork composition to said hopper. This hopper has associated therewith a cork composition feeding mechanism by which a measured quantity of cork will be delivered to each tube being packed, prior Y to each compacting operation of the plunger mechanism of the machine.

Rotatably mounted upon; the central column 11 is a tube carrier consisting'of a drum 19 having a sequence of circularly arranged sleeves 20 arranged in vertical alinement .with the circular top of the base 10, and the discharge port of the hopper 18,

each sleeve preferably being supported by a vertical flange 21 upon the drum 19. The

number of sleeves 20'will vary in accordance with the number of charges required to fill each tube, the operation of the machine requiring that a tube shall be moved intermittently throughout the entire circumference of the base 10 during each filling operation.

The topof the base 10 has thereon a sequence of supports 22 of gradually decreas ing heights, the highest of these supports being shown at 22 and the lowest at 22 In the forms of the invention shown, the supports 22 are a' sequence of abrupt steps, the height of each of these steps corresponding with the depth of each compacted charge in each tube.

Carried by the hopper 18, or secured to the central column 11 in any other desired manner, is a depending circular flange 23 having a sequence of stops 24; upon the lower face thereof, said stops also being of decreasing height with relation to'the plungers and to the base, the first of these stops being shown at 24 and the last 'ofthem-at 2a", the stop 24; being immediately above the support 2%, andthe stop 24 .beingimmediately above the support 22". The purpose of these stops is to check upward movement of the various tubes with theplungers.

Passing vertically through the tlange 23 and opening downwardly of the stops 24: are a sequence of channels.25 of progressively decreasing length in the direction of movement of the drum 19; Cork composition is delivered to said channels by the measuring mechanism and discharged therefrom in part by flowing under gravity, and

in part by the action of the plunger thereon, into that tube which, as the moment, is in a position to receive such cork composition from any particular channel 25. These channels are so positioned in relation to each other that they will be axially alined with the respective sleeves 20 when these sleeves come to rest after each feeding movement of the carrier. The top of each channel or passage 25 is adapted to receive corkcomposition from a measuring device receiving rotary movement with the tube carrier, this'measuring device being adapted to receive, cork compositionfrom discharge ports in the bottom'of the hopper 18, which ports preferably are elongated as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 so as to ensure. .a filling of this measuring device with the cork composition as it receives rotary movement with relation to succeeding succeeding channel's 25.

carrie'dby the drum 19, as shown more particularly'in Fig. 2 of the. drawings and the said pockets 27 are in axial alinement with the sleeves 20, k

i. The lower end of the drum 19 is outward- 1y extended as shown at 28, and Within this extended portion is a sequence of spaced,

anti-friction rollers 29 adaptedto be successively engaged by a cam about the perimeter of the crank wheel 13. This cam has a circular portion" 30 adjacent one edge of the wheel, and extending for approximately 270 in the same plan'e,a short portion 31- parallel with the portion 30, spaced away therefrom a distance substantially coinciding with the diameter ofeach anti-friction roller of the series 2-8, and a connecting oblique section 32 connecting one end of the" section 30 with one end of the section 31. The riser 32- is so positioned as to operativev lyengage an anti-friction roller of the 'se-' qluence 28 only when the conditions about tie machine are such as to permit rotation i of the drum 1 9 and the sleeves 20, and annulus 26gcarried by and rotatable with said drum; This construction is to ensure exactitude in the relative timing of the plungers', of the cork composition feeding mechanism, and of the tube holding sleeves 20.,"

yThe circular portionBO of this cam serves to maintain the carriers andthe I'neasuring mechanism ,1nj accurate ahnement With, the' various plungers upon each strokeofjthe plunger mechanism;

Carried by the top of the slide l2 top frame or spider 33, having a sequence of downwardly extending plungers or rams 34L, all of which are of substantially the same length. it It will be readily understood that precision asto the length of these 'plungers .is not essential when the material'to be worked upon is cork composition, which posse:ses sufficient resiliency to compensate for any slight variance in the lengths of dif- V-i'erent' plungers. The various plungers 34 v are respectively 1n axlal allnement w th a channel or passage 25 so'asj. to pass there-' through upon thedo'wn stroke of the plunger, and also through a pocket 27 ofthe annulus 26 which, at the time, are in axial alineme nt with thatchannel or passage, and Since the sleeves 20 are suc-' the plungers.

cessively brought into axial alinement with each channel or passage 25, and are always 3 ;ti1ne vthe short section 31 0f. the.cam 1 ipon in alinement with the same'pocket 27 it is apparent that each plun eru on each down ischarge port stroke will pass through a manate filledtube has just dropped of the hopper 18, a pocket'27, and a channel 25' into a tube3 5 carried by a sleeve 20, and during this [operation will not only assist gravity in delivering cork composition to within the tube as required,.but willco'mpact the charge of cork composition thus delivered, although upon succeeding down succeedii'ig tubes and 'not' the same tube.

, The length of each plungeri fl is such that when the pistonQlike slide 12 is in its upper-.

most position, the lower ends of the p'lu'nfgers will be positioned sufficiently above the bottom of the hopper 18' to preventcork (101 position toaccuinulate between the plunger strokes thisoperation will be in relation to and the annulus 26, in any material volume, i while at the sametnne affording ample time forthe progressive advancement of the variofus tubes to be packed or in process of v bei'iigpacked, and of the annulus' 26. The slide or spare-r33 is so-constructec'l as to possess suflicient rigidity-to avoid flexing asaresult of the resistance encountered by held against flexure by the bearings afforded by the pendant flange and-annulus 26;

"Between the supports22 -and 22? is a; re-

' cess 36, adapted to permit tubes 3 5 to drop from the sleeves 20 as thee'sleevesare progressively positioned abovesaid recess; thus aiiording clearance 'for the insertioniof a fresh, empty tube in the sleeve 20 from I The'v'arious' supportsl22 terminate in ad vance of the parallel co-operating stop's 24,

a distance slightly greater than the diarneter of the tubes, sogasto permit the tubes to: fall from the stops upon the succeeding support, following the initial rotary niove-v ment ofthe tube carriers upon each actua tion thereof. 5

' The operation of the herein 'desciiibed cork rod packing as follows:

' In startmg a run of the machine, a tube machine is substantially is inserted in each of the'sleeves 20; as it is passing above t-lierecess' 36, and held in position until the tube passes upon the support earners being sufficient clearance adjacent the stop 24: to permit the tilting of the tube when placing 'it within. said sleeve.

When'the tubes are thus inserted, the various plungers willbe toward their upper-i before granular cork isgdelivered -to the hopper 18. Upon the continuedrot'ation of the crank" wheel 13, from the position's'shownin Figs; 15 and 2, the plungers 34 will receive slight upwardmovement, an'dlat the same said crank wheel passes from engagement between succeeding wheels of the sequence 28 and the oblique section 32 by engagement with said wheels, will impart a rotary movement to the drum 19 to the various sleeves 20 carried thereby, and to the annulus 26, to an extent to bring the various pockets 27 of said annulus, and each sleeve 20, progressively into relation to succeeding plungers 34. V j

As the desired quantity of .movement of the drum 19 is completed, the section 30 engages between the succeeding wheels of the sequence 28, and holds the drum in this position, the short section 31 of said cam being thus positioned where it will enter between succeeding rollers as the rotary movement of the wheel 13 brings this section into a position where itwill'againengage said sequence of rollers.

As the annulus 26 is thus receiving movement from above one passage 25 toward the adjacent passage 25, cork will flow from the hopper 18 through the elongated discharge port of said hopper, the close fit between the top of this annulus and the bottom of the hopper preventing the escape of any cork composition except to. within the pocket. p [I As the annulus 26 and the various tubes 35 come to rest, the opening in each tube will be in vertical-alinement with a channel 7 or passage 25 and with a pocket 27, and in axial alinement with the plunger 34, cooperating with each channel 25.

When the parts are in this position, cork will flow by gravity from eachpocket 27 through each channel 25 in the flange 24, and into each tube, the quantity of this cork being determined by'the capacity of the pocket 27 although the slight distance between the plungers 34 and the top of the annulus 26, when the plungers are in their uppermost position, will tend to slightly in crease this'volume, but to a definite extent. As the crank of the wheel 13 passes the vertical center, the head or spider 33 will be moved downward slowly, so as to exert the minimum compacting pressure upon cork in the pockets27, due to a possibl sluggish action of this cork composition and a tendency of the thinly coated cork granules to adhere to the walls of the pocket.

.This downward movement, however, will assist gravity in rapidly discharging cork composition frointhe annulus to each passage 25, and therefrom to the various It will'be noted that before each down stroke of the plungers, which move as a unit, tubes in'the tube carrier will be positioned upon differentvertical planes by the supports 22, so that notwithstanding that ,the 'plungers are all, of substantially the same length, the effectiveness of theirst'roke in compacting thecork, is controlled by the positionof the several tubes. Hence, when the first charge of cork is delivered to the various tubes, the only charge which will be compacted is that which is in the tube 35 seated upon the support 22 and that all tubesin advance of this tube will'be imperfectly filled and packed duringthe ini tial cycle of operations of the machine. When the machine, however, has completed this initial cycle, this filled .tube' will be discharged from the machine, and thetubes that I pass through the machine following this particular tube will also be completely filled and packed, so that thereafter. each actuation of the carrier will deliver one 'con'ipletely filled and packed tube as a result of the progressive action of the successive plungers 34.

The condition; of packing is illustrated l diagrami'natically in Fig. 40f the drawings, which shows the position of each tubein a tendency, by reasonof frictional engage ment between the plunger and the tube, to raise the tube, which necessitates the employment of the stops 24. By staggering the stops 24 in relationto the'supports 22, however, clearance is afforded for an initial movement of the tube supports following the escape of the plunger from within the tube, to permit the tubes to descend by gravity to the'succeeding support 22 Without interference from the vertical fall between succeeding stops.

Following each up stroke of the plunger 34, the cams 30, 31 and 32 will impart the desired fixed quantity of rotary movement to the sleeves 20. and the annulus '26, the

section 30 preventing any possible overrunning of the drum 19 and the parts carried length facilitates uniformity in the actuation of the cork composition feeding mechanism, and secures a well balanced condition in theplunger mechanism. At the same time, all plungers will. pass through the pockets 2? simultaneously, 'so that-there are uniform pressure conditions as to all of the plungers upon each down stroke thereof.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it be:

' ing apparent that such details are subject A to 'wide variation, while still preservingithe essential characteristic of the invention,

which resides in the sequence of plungers of substantially uniform length, and that arrangement by which the tubes, after having each chargeco-mpactedtherein, are caused" to descend to a lower level in relation to'the plunger and to an extent approximating the height of a compacted charge of cork;

composition in eachitube.

I 1. A cork rod packing machine embody- 7 111g therein a sequence of plungers ofsub- I stantially uniform length means reciprocating said plungers, a rotatable carrier for a pluralityof tubes whereby said tubes re spectively may be brought into operative relation to succeeding plungers,g-supports for said plungers whereby each of said tubes Wlll be held againt downward" movement with a plunger, said supports being of decreasing'ly graduated heights with relationto the plu'ngers, whereby'the tubes with each actuation of saidcarrier will be permitted vto descend from one of-said supports'to the other, and means for delivering-a measured quantity of cork composition to within each tube while upon each ofsaidsu'pports;

2. A cork rod packing machine embodying therein a sequence of; plungers of sub stantially uniform length, means recipro V catingfsaid'pl'ungers, a rotatable carrier for a plurality of tubes'whereby said tubes respectively may be brought into operative relation to succeeding plungers, supports for V g livering a measuredquantity of cork come position to within .each'tube while upon each 5 of said supports. Y

said plungers whereby each of said tubes will be held against downward movement witha plunger, jsaid supports being of decreasingly graduated heights with relation jandsaid slide; co operating means uponsaid to the plungers, wherebythe tubes with each actuation ofsaid carrier vwill be permitted to descendfrom one of said supports to the other, stops of decreasingly' graduated heights above said supports respectively and inoperative relation to the topsvof the tubes,

7 wherebyonlylimited upward movement, of.

the tubes with the plungersis permitted, and means-fordelivering a "measured quan- 'tity'ofco'r'k composition to within each tube while upon each of said supports. a

" 3. A cork rodpacking'mach'neembodying therein a sequence of plungers of substantially uniform length, a slide for actuating said plungers, a rotatable carrier for aplurality of tubes whereby said tubes respec tively may be brought into operativerelation to succeedingpilungers, a crank wheel.- a

member carrying all of sna -111mm, a pitman connection between said crank wheel whereby said carrier is intermittently actuated whilesaid plungers are adjacent their uppermost p osition,lsupports tor said plungers'whereby each of said tubes will be heldagainst downward movement with a'plunger,

said supports being of decreasingly gradu-. atedheights with relation to the plungers, whereby the tubes with'each! actuation of said "carrier will-be permitted to descend,

from one .of-"saidsu'pports to, tlie oth'enand I means for delivering a measured quantity of cork compositionlto within each tube while upon each of saidsuppor,ts.- I

4; Acor-k rod packing mac,

tially uniform length, a slide for actuating hine v therei a sequence of plunger'sof; substansaidplungers, a rotatable carrienfora plue 4 tively may be br'oughtrinto operative rela-l 'ralityof tubes whereby said [tubes respeo tion to succeeding plungers, :acran-k'wheel,

a member "carrying all of; said plungers,-' a y pit'man connection between: said crank wheel and saidslide,co-operating means upon said. carrier and actuated by said crankwheel,

whereby said carrier is intermittently actuated, while said plungers are adjacent their uppermost position, supports for said plunge 'ers fwherebyleach of said tubeswill be held against downward movement with a plung uatedheights with relation to the plungersf er, said supports beinglof decreasinglygradportsrespectively and inoperative relation to the tops ofthetubjes, whereby only limit: ed upward movement of the tubes'with the plungers is permitted, and 'meansfor de- T55. A cork rod packing machine embodying therein a sequenceof' plungers of substantially uniform lengtln-aslide for actuating said plungers', airotatableqcarrierfor aplurality of tubes "whereby-said tubes respectively may, be brought intowfzoperative. relationto suceeeding -plungers,;=arrank wheel, v

a member @ca'rryingiall'of Said-plungers, a

pitman connection between said crank Wheel v and said' slide,rcooperatingmeans upon said carrier and actuated by 'saidcrank wvheel,

wherebygsaid' carrier is intermittently actuated-while said plungers are adjacent their uppermost position, meansiwhereby -move- V ment of said carrier is arrestedand'it'is maintained in a 1 fixed 7 position i with :relation: to -sa'id plunger fiollowing each actuation thereof by said last 'Jnamed'Ycoroperati-ng-means, 1

supports for said plungers whereby each o each actuation of said carrier therein a sequence of plungers of subs'tanatially uniform length, faslide for actuating saidplungers, a rotatable carrier for a plurality of tubes whereby said tubes 7 respectively may bebrought intooperative rela tion to succeeding plungers, a crank wheel, a member carrying all of said plungers, a p1tman connection between said crank wheel against movement in a fixed p'osition with and said' slide,a sequence of spacedmem hers-carried by said carrier, a cam upon said crank wheel comprising a long circular section adapt'ed to normally hold said carrier relation to said plungers, a short section parallel therewith and spacedthereform, and an oblique connecting section, whereby said carrieris intermittently actuated once during each reciprocatory movement of said plungers and while they are adjacent their uppermost position, supports for said plungersi'whereby each of said tubes'will be held against downward 'movement with a plungensaid supports being of decreasingly graduated heights with relation to the-plungers, whereby the tubes with eaclr actuation of said carrier will be permitted to descend from one of said supports to the other, and meas for delivering a measured quantity of F cork composition to within each tube while upon each of said supports.

v 7 A cork rod pack ngmachine embodying therein a sequence of plungers of substantially uniform length, means reciprocating said plungers, a rotatable carrier for a plurality of tubes whereby said tubes respectively may be brought into operative relation to succeeding plunger's, supports for said plungers whereby each of said tubes will'be held against downward. movement with "a plunger, said supports being of decreasingly graduated heights with relation to the plungers, whereby the tubes with eachactuation of said carrier will be'permited to descend from'one of said supports to the other, a hopper adapted to receive cork rcomposition and having a downwardly presented outlet, a rotatable annulus having a sequence of pockets thereinthrough which said plungers are adapted to pass, means whereby channels of progressively increasing lengths are formed leading from adjacent said annulus to a point adjacent the tops oftubes in said carrier respectively, and means intermittently actuating said annulus simultaneously a with, and to the'same extent as, said'oarrier.

8. A cork rodpacking machine embodying therein a sequence of plungers of substantially uniform length, means reciprocating said plungers, a carrier including therein a rotatable member having a sequence of spaced sleeves thereon each adapted to receive a tube, means actuatlng said rotatable member whereby said tubes respectively may be brought into operative relation to suc-V 'ceedmg plunger-s, supports for, said plungers whereby each of said tubes will beheld against down vard movement with aplrmger, said supports being of decreasingly grad- .uated l'ieights with relation to theplungers,

whereby the tubes with each aetuation, of said carrier will be permitted to descend from one of said supports to the other, a hopper adapted to receive-cork composition and havin a downwardly presented outlet, a

qucnce' of stopv surfaces adjacent the lower ends ofthe channels thereinrespectively, and

means intermittently actuating said annulus simultaneously with,and to the sameextent as, said carrier. i a

9. A cork rodpacking machine embodying therein a base having an annulartop on which is formed a sequence of supports of decreasingly graduated. heights, a: hollow cylindrical column centrally of saidannular base, a cylindrical slide mounted in said column, a sequence of annularly arranged plunger-s of substantially uniform length carried by said slide, said plu'ngers being concentric with, and positioned abo.ve,,said supports respectively, a crank wheel, a pitman connection between said crank wheel and said slide, a rotatable carrier-fonapluralityfoftubes whereby said tubes. are intermittently moved from one of said supports to the succeeding support of the next lower leveltobring tubes progressively intoiopera-' tive relation to each ofs'ai-d :plung'ers', c0- operatmg-mean's uponsa d carrier and actu- Jim atedby said crank wheel for intermittently actuating said carrier while said plungers are adjacent their uppermost position, and means for delivering a measured quantity of cork composition to-within each tube while upon each of said supports. 7-

10. A cork rod packingmachine embody:-

mg therein avbase having-an annular topon V which is formed a sequence of supports of decreasingly graduated heights; a hollow cylindrical; columncentrallyof said annular base,- ,a cylindrical slide mounted in said'column, a sequence of annularly arranged. plungers of substantially uniform length carried by said slide, said plungers being ports to the succeeding support of the next lower level to bring tubes progressively into operative relation to each of said plungers,

co-o )cratin means 'u3on said carrier and Y actuated by said crank wheel, for intermittently actuating said carrier while said plungers are adjacent their uppermost position, and means for delivering a measured quantity of cork composition to within each tube while upon-each of said'supports. i

11. A cork rod packing machine embodying therein a base having an annular topfon which is formed a sequence of supportsof decreasingly graduated heights, a hollow cylindrical column centrally of said annular base. a cylindrical slide mounted in said column, a sequence ofiannularly arranged plungers of substantially uniform length carried by said slide, said plungers being concentric with, and positioned above, said supports respectively, a crank wheel, a pitman connection between said crank wheel and said slide, a rotatable carrier for a plurality of tubes, a cam upon said crank wheel comprising a long circular section adapted to normally hold said carrier against movement in a fixed position with relation to said plungers, a short section parallel therewith and spaced therefrom, and an oblique. connecting section, whereby said tubes are intermittently moved from one of 'said supports to the succeeding support of the next lower level to bring tubes progressively into operative relation to each of said plungers, co-operating means upon said carrier and actuated by,v

said crank wheel, for intermittently actuating said carrier while said plungers are ad-,

jacent their uppermost position, a hopper adapted to receive cork composition and having a downwardly presented outlet, a rotatable annulus having a sequence of pockets therein inaxialalinementwith said sleeves respectively, said pIungers being adapted .to' pass through said pockets, a fixed pendant flange intermediate said annulus and said supports, said ,flangehaving therein a sequence of channels of progressively increasinglengths leading from adjacent said annulus to a point adjacent the tops ofthe tubes in said carrier respectively, said flange having formed thereon a sequence of stop surfaces adjac'ent the lower ends of the channels therein respectively, and means intermittently actuating said annulus simultaneously with, and to the same extent as, said carrier; s

'12. vricorkrod packing'machine embodying therein a sequence of plungers of sub-; stantially un -form length, f means recipro-v ,cating said plungers, a member forming asequence of supports corresponding 1n numver with said plungers and positioned below said plungers respectively, said supports being of progressively decreasing heights, an intermittently operative carrier adapted to impart movement to asequence of tubes between reciprocations of said plungerswhereby said tubes are permitted to descend from onesupport to the other, and, means for delivering a measured quantity of cork composition to within each tube. whileupon each of said supports. I

In witness whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature, this 28th day of November, 1923.

7 CHARLES E. MCMANUs- 

